The nominations for the 2024 ACM Awards are out, and there are plenty of happy surprises. From first-time nominations to formerly overlooked artists, keep reading to find ten artists who have much to celebrate.
1. Cody Johnson’s Entertainer of the Year Nomination
Cody Johnson‘s career seems to be on a rapid ascent, and it’s great that the music industry is taking notice. Johnson is tied with Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson with five nods, which for Johnson includes him receiving his first-ever Entertainer of the Year nomination.
For an artist who keeps churning out hit after hit, and has sold out many of the dates on his current Leather Tour, Johnson has placed a stake in country music about the kind of music he will — and will not — make, and it’s nice to see him being acknowledged for that.
2. Megan Moroney’s Six Nominations
Megan Moroney was only nominated for one ACM Award prior to this year, for New Female Artist of the Year last year, with that trophy going to Hailey Whitters. So it’s nice to see Moroney being recognized for the hard work she has done the past few years.
Some of Moroney’s nominations are for her debut single, “Tennessee Orange,” with Moroney receiving nominations as both the songwriter and artist for Song of the Year. But the 26-year-old also is nominated for both Female Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year, both deserving nods for the talented singer.
3. Jordan Davis’ Four Nominations
Jordan Davis‘ time of being overlooked in country music is, fortunately, over. Although he has been nominated a handful of times before, this is the first time Davis has received four nominations, putting him (correctly) in the same league as other hitmakers. This year, only Davis and Jelly Roll have four nominations, with Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen. Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton the only artists who have more nominations than Davis.
4. Dylan Scott’s New Artist of the Year Nomination
Dylan Scott received his second ACM Awards nomination, ironically both for New Male Artist of the Year, which he was also nominated for last year. Although Scott is far from a new artist, and in fact celebrated his fourth No. 1 hit last year (with “Can’t Have Mine”), since his eponymous debut album came out eight years ago, Scott has been notoriously overlooked, so the fact that he is nominated for anything is a welcome, albeit overdue, nomination.
5. Parker McCollum’s Single and Visual Media of the Year Nominations
Parker McCollum has only won one ACM Award, for New Male Artist of the Year in 2021, which was also the only nomination he has received, until now. MccCollum is nominated for Single of the Year and Visual Media of the Year, both for his recent No.1 hit, “Burn It Down.”
6. Tyler Childers’ First ACM Awards Nomination
Tyler Childers has already developed quite the fanbase, but his success and notoriety has flown largely under the radar, until now. Childers received his first-ever ACM Awards nomination, for Visual Media of the Year, for “In Your Love,” which also happens to be his highest-charting single to date. For an artist who has happily stayed in his own lane, it’s nice to see the music industry take note of his talent.
7. Lainey Wilson’s Entertainer of the Year Nomination
Lainey Wilson is already the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, a category she could also win at the ACM Awards as well. While it is early in her career to be nominated for the night’s highest honor, there are few artists who work as hard, or with as much intentionality, as Wilson. Nominated for a total of five ACM Awards this year, Wilson is also the only female artist nominated in a category that has been historically dominated by men. This is also Wilson’s first Entertainer of the Year nod at the ACMs.
8. Zach Bryan’s Two ACM Awards Nominations
Zach Bryan has gone on record saying he doesn’t care about industry recognition, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve it. Bryan received two ACM Awards nominations this year, both for Music Event of the Year (for his “I Remember Everything” collaboration with Kacey Musgraves, plus for Artist-Songwriter of the Year. He also won New Male Artist of the Year last year.
9. Ashley Cooke’s New Female Artist of the Year Nomination
Ashley Cooke just won her first major award, taking home the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year (for “your place”). She released her ambitious, 24-track 2023 Shot in the Dark album, and is touring on her own, while also opening up for Jordan Davis on the road. The New Female Artist of the Year nomination is likely the first of many that she will receive in years to come.
